Combination container



4, 1934- A. I. BEHRE'NS 1,982,780

COMBINATION CONTAINER Filed April 14, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mknww ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1934. LBE EQ 1,982,780

COMBINATION CONTAINER Filed April 14,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flat-4 7 A zZX PEA S} ATTORNEY BY WMMMM I N Dec. 4, 1934.. A. 1. BEHRENS COMBINATION CONTAINER Filed April 14, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 B? mm,m

. ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1934 COMBINATION CONTAINER Albert I. Behrens, New York, N. Y., assignor to Trautmann, Bailey & Blampey, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,108 Claims. (01. 46-37 This invention relates to blanks adapted to be formed or bent into'boxes or containers and more particularly of being formed into containers capable of double use. The invention has for its ob- 5 ject the provision of a blank of single or combined material capable of being ornamented to carry an illustration of some well known object which whenfolded in one manner forms a box or container but when folded another way, simulates a bed or other such device that can be used as a toy. Another object is to provide such a blank which permits of all the ornamentation to be applied to one; side thereof. Still another object is to provide several types of blanks formed along the same principles but capable of simulating different objects of the same nature. For instance, one type is to simulate a cradle that is appropriate for baby dolls while another type is tosimulate a crib for more grown up dolls, and to give each 20 type the true characteristics of the object simulated. Above all, is the desire to produce a pack age for use by a doll seller which will have the eifect of stimulating the sale of his dolls.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description. In the accompanying drawings, there has been illustrated the best embodiments of my invention known to me, but such embodiments are to be regarded as typical only of many possible ones and my invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of a blank capable of being refolded from a box into a crib. Figure 2 shows a perspective View of that blank folded into a box that is partially open. Figure 3 isa perspective'view of the box closed looking up at the bottom of the box. Figure 4 is a perspective view also looking up at the bottom of the box to show the initial steps in unfolding it to reform it. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the box reformed into a crib. Figure 6 shows a transverse sectional view taken across the crib. Figure 7 is a partial longitudinal cross sectional view taken along the line '7-7 in Figure 6. Figure 8 shows a plan view of amodified form of blank to be formed into the simulation of a cradle. Figure 9 is a perspective'view of its appearance as a cradle. Figure 10 is an end elevational view thereof andFigure 11 is a perspective view of the blank when formed into a box.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the appearance of th'e blank of some fibrous material embodying my invention which is made up of an oblong main body or bottom position 11 provided with two sets of scored lines 12, 13and 12', 13 respectively at eachend thereof; a panel portion 14 and 14' respectively beyond each set of said scored lines; two more sets of scored lines 15, 16 and 15, and, 16 respectivelyeach set forming the outer border of each of said panels; and beyond each set, of the lattermentioned sets of scored lines is an ornamented flap .17and 17" respectively. I

Extending laterally of the main body portion 11 is a side extension 18 provided at eachend thereof with two sets of scored lines 22, 23 and 22', and 23 which" form continuations of lines 12, 13, 12 and 13 as shown. Beyond sets of "lines .22, 23, 22. and 23' are end flaps 24 and 24'.

Again, extending laterallyfrom side extension 18 is a side 25 provided at its outer edge with slits 26 and 27 aligned with scored lines 22 and 22 respectively and with side notches 28 and 29 which extend inwardly from the side of the side-extention 18 as far as the inner scored lines 22 and22' respectively.

Carried by the other side of the main body portion 11 is a similar series of extensions so they will notbe redescribed except to say that 18' corresponds to 18; 32, 33 and 32., 3.3 to 22,23, 22' and 23"respectively; 34 and 34' to 24,.and 24' respectively; 35 to 25; and 36, 37, 38 and 39 to 26, 27, 28 and 29. respectively. The mairrbody portion 11 has a scored line 40 dividingit from its lateral extension 18, and a scored line 41 dividing it from its extension 18'. Extension 18 is divided from its side 25 by line 42 and extension 18 is divided from its side 35 by scored line 43.

Main portion 11 may be ornamented in any suitablemanner to make it appear like the mattress of a: bed or crib while extensions 14, 14', 17, 17', 18, 18, 25 and 35 may be ornamented to picture-crib or bed structure such as bars, as shown in the drawings but in this connection it is to be noted that-all such ornamentation only needs to'be done on one side of the blank as shown in Figure 1', so'this tends to minimize, the cost of printing or otherwise. decorating the blanks. To carry out the crib appearance, the flaps 1'7 and 1'7 may terminate infeet such as 44,- l5 and 44, 45' respectively, although if the feet extend beyond the width of flaps '17 and 17 they must be foldable on scored lines 46, 47 and 46, 47' respectively in order to permit closure thereof into box formas shown in Figure2. I

v In practice, the printed or lithographed blanks cutout as shown in Figure 1 will be sold to the dealer. He will have the blanks folded into box formas shownfin Figures 2 and 3 in which a doll will be placed. The doll in its box will be sold. The user after openi'ng the box and'removing the doll will turn the box inside out,- so to speak,

to form the box-blank into a bed or doll crib, as shown in Figure 5.

The dealer can shape the blank into a box as follows: He bends left hand panel 14 upwardly at right angles to body portion or bottom 11 along outer scored line 13. He similarly bends right hand panel 14 upwardly along outer scored line 13. Then he bends'upper side extension 18 upwardly at right angles to the body or bottom portion 11 along scored line 40. Similarly, he bends the lower side extension 18 upwardly along scored line 41. End flap 24 is bentangularly on side extension 18 along outer scored line 23 while the other end flap 24 on extension 18 i's bent angularly along line 23. In the same manner left end flap 34 of lower side extension 18' is bent angularly along the outer 'sc'ored line 33'and corresponding flap 34 is bent along outer scored line 33. When these various bend portions 'are brought together a box is formed which appears about as is shown inFigure 2, with the end flaps 24 and 34' lying between the right hand panel 14"and the flap 1'7. Similarly, the end flaps 24 and 34 are between 'panel 14 and flap 1'7. In

' this position, the doll is inserted and the fiaps 1'7, 17 and sides and 35 are closed down so that uppermost side, such as 35 in Figure 3 can be sealed down with any suitable means such as a 'gummed sealing strip 48. The box, with its contained doll, as shown in Fig. 3 is ready for shipment.

The receiver of the boxed doll can open the box by breaking the gummedstrip 48 and raise the'sides 35 and 25 and flaps 1'7 and 1'7 to a position-as shown in Figure 2 whereupon the doll may be removed from the box. Then the user may convert thebox into a crib for the doll as follows: The side 25 is rotated about a scored line 42 as shown in Figure 4 which is a view looking upwardlyat bottom or body portion 11. The other parts are opened until the parts are returned to approximately that of the blank shown in Figure 1.

Then beginning somewhat as in making the box, left panel 14 isbent upwardly, not along outer scored line 13 as before but along inner scored line 12; right panel 14 is similarly bent along theinner scored line 12. Side extension 18 is bent along line and its end flaps 24 and 24' are respectively bent, not as before along the outer scored lines but along the inner scored lines 22 and 22'. f Side extension 18' is similarly treated. Now, instead of bending the main flaps 1'7and 1'7 over the box,they are bent outwardly along thescored lines 15 and 15, respectively, so that. these flaps will form the head and foot of the crib, with the'legs'of these flaps resting onthe table orfloor, as does those of a crib. Next, the sides 25 and 35 are bent back to form the sides of the crib and the slits 26, 2'7 etc. are used to detachablylock or fasten the sides to the legs 44, 45 etc. of the endflaps 1'7'and 1'7 by engaging notches 49 therein. 'Thus a crib is formed as shown in Figure 5. V

Constructionally the pairs of scored lines are important. Lines 32, 12 and 22 really form one continuous line and slits 26 and 36 are aligned therewith. Adjacentyscored lines 33, 13 and 23 also form one continuous line. So too do lines 32, 12 and 22 with which are aligned slits 2'7 and'3'7. Other sets or pairs of lines are 15and16 and15 and 16'. Individual lines of each'pair are spaced apart, the same distance as are individual-lines in pairs 12 and 13, 12' and13'etc." The reason for these sets oflines is that when formed as a crib, fastening means are necessary for holding the parts in this relationship. Such means comprise the slits 26, 2'7, 36 and 3'7 and the various notches numbered as 49 with which they engage. So that the slits will not tear out, they cannot be placed too near the side edges of side-flaps 25 and 35, therefore they have to bemade-longer to extend beyond the foot and headof the'crib as shown in Figure5. If when folded into a box, the same inner scored lines were used, the side-extensions "25 and 35 would be longer than the box. So when a'box is't'obemade, it is folded along the outer scored lines whereby the box is as long as the side extensions, as shown in Figure 2. When the crib is formedalong the inner scored lines the crib proper is shorter than the side pieces 25' and 35.

A simple embodiment of my invention is possible as shown in Figures 8 to 11 wherein a doll box can be refolded into another form of bed such as a cradle for the doll. Whereas in the previously described embodiment the box was rectangular in cross-section. In this form the box is trapezoidal in cross-section to more thoroughly simu- 109 late a cradle. This type of box is simpler to make than the other form previously described. In this simpler form 51 represents the main portion of the blank and bottom portionof the box. 52 and 53 represent lateral or side extensions on the por- 10;, tion 51 with scored lines 54and therebetween. Side-extension 52 has flaps 56 and 5'7 distinguished by scored lines 58 and 59 respectively. Similar flaps 60 and 61 are provided with sideextensions- 53 likewise distinguished by scored lines 62 and 63. Extension 52 has a side 64 distinguished by scored line 65 between it and side extension 52. Similarly, extension 53 hasa side 66 distinguished by scored line 6'7. Side 64 has angular slits 68 and 69 therein while side 66.has 11;. similar slits '70 and '71. V

Main portion 51 has an end panel '72 with-a scored line '73 therebetween, and panel '72 is defined by a scored line '74 and terminates in a flap '75 providedwith a curved portion '76 having two notches '77 and "78. Similarly, oppositely arranged on main portion 51 is panel '79 distinguished therefrom by scored line 80, and this panel terminates in a fiap 81 defined by scored line 82. The panel has a curved portion 83 with notches 84 and 85 13;,

therein. V

The blank is folded into box form by bending up side extensions 52 and 53 upwardly 'from the main or bottom portion 51along scored lines 54 and 55 respectively to form the sides of thebox; 13; bendingthe flaps 56- and 5'7, 60 and fil inwardly; bendingthe panels '72 and '79 upwardly to form the ends of the box; bending the flaps "75 and 81 over to form a part of thebox top; and'then bending over the sides 64'and 66 to form thereal'top of the box-and to close-it. The closed box will appear as in Figurell. Y

If the receiver of the box desires to'make it into a cradle, the box is opened byhaving 'its-sidepieces 64 and 66 pivoted about the scored'lines 65 and6'7 respectively, .to be bent back uponthe sides of the box as shown in Figure 10. Then the flaps 81 and '75 are respectively'bent'back on their scored lines '82 and-74' until the flaps assume a substantially vertical position when they'are detachably locked in position by having slit-'68 engage notch 84; slit '70 engage notch'85; slit '11 engage notch "78; and slit 69 engage notch '77. The flaps 56=and--60 are arranged to -be caught between panel '79 and flap'81 whileflaps-.5'7 and 61 are arranged to be caught between panel 72 and flap 75. In this position, the box has assumed the form of a crib with the curved portions '76 and 83 of the flaps 75 and 81 respectivelyserve as rockers. The cradle ends 81 and '75 are not precisely vertical but are at slight angle beyond the vertical so that they slant toward each other just as does the ends of a real cradle. This is accomplished by setting the slits such as 68 and 70 from the edge of the side pieces 66 and 64 as can be seen from Figure 9.

The blank is capable of having cradle designs or markings impressed on it as was described for the crib of Figure 1 since all the printing or lithographing can be on one side of the blank. The cradle can be made rectangular in crosssection, if desired.

Thus I have devised a form of blank capable of being used as a box or container and then of being reformed or refolded into a toy. In one embodiment, the blank can be refolded into a cradle. This type can be used in connection with the sale of small or baby dolls, whereas the crib type can be used in connection with larger or more grownup dolls. I may go so far as to use a bed type without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Other changes may be made since while it is preferred to have the blank cut from some type of stiff paper or cardboard, other materials may be used, such as metal, or combinations of fiber and metal. Again, where I have described the use of scored lines, I mean that any arrangement or treatment may be used to make bending in that place easy. I may substitute for some of the scored lines flexible strips or metal hinges. For instance, suppose in the showing in Figure 1, it is undesirable to cut the whole blank from one piece of material. I may cut it minus end flaps 17 and 1'7. These I could cut out separately and secure them to the main blank, at the lines 16 and 16 as junctures, by means of a gummed strip of paper or fabric or metal hinges. This would also give me the flexibility for bending which I otherwise obtain by a scored line. Obviously, the overlapping flaps 24, 34 and 34., 24'; or 50, and 5'7, 61 may be made interlocking, if desired.

I claim:

1. A blank adapted to be formed into a container comprising a main portion, a side extension on each side of said portion, a notched lateral extension on each of said side extensions, 2. panel carried by each end of said main portion and a notched end flap on each of said panels shaped to simulate the ends of a toy, said blank being ornamented on one side to give parts thereof the appearance of corresponding parts of a toy and characterized by said flaps when in crib forming position being spaced apart a distance less than the length of said notched lateral side extensions whereby the parts are fastenable together through the medium of their notches.

2. A combined container and. doll bed comprising a blank having a bottom portion, side and end portions, an extension on each side portion foldable inwardly to form a part of the container top and outwardly to form a side of the bed, a flap on each end portion foldable inwardly to form a part of the container top and outwardly to form an end of the bed, and integral means for directly fastening the extensions and flaps together when folded in outward bed-forming position. 1

3. A blank according to claim 2 in which said flaps each carry a curved portion to simulate a rocker of a cradle and said fastening means comprise slots in said end flaps for grippingly engaging said side extensions to detachably secure the flaps and extensions together.

4. A combination container comprising a blank having a main portion, a side extension on each side thereof, two pairs of adjacent parallel scored lines extending transversely of said main portion and its side extensions, a lateral extension on each of said side extensions as long as the distance between the outside scored lines of the two pairs thereof, a panel extending from each end of said main portion, a flap carried by each panel, and a pair of scored lines on said panel, spaced apart the same distance as the individual lines of the previously mentioned pairs of lines.

5. A doll bed comprising a bottom portion, side extensions thereon forming the sides of the bed, end panels thereon forming the ends of the bed, a lateral extension on each side extension bent back outwardly upon the side extension, a flap on each panel bent back outwardly upon the panel,

. and integral means for detachably fastening said bent back parts together, said end flaps when bent back being inclined toward each other.

ALBERT I. BEHRENS. 

